JJoburg Tourism, in partnership with Gauteng Tourism and Constitution Hill, will host the ever first International AfroPunk Festival in Joburg from 30 December 2017 to 1 January 2018 at iconic Constitution Hill.

Held over the New Year’s Eve weekend, the Johannesburg edition is expected to attract 10 000 people each day at the city’s Constitutional Hill for a fabulous line-up of performances by Solange Knowles, Anderson, Paak & The Free Nationals, King Tha, Blk Jks, Laura Mvula, The Brother Moves On, Nakhane and Spoek Mathambo, among other established and emerging artists.

It is estimated that a third of the audience will travel to Johannesburg - from Cape Town and South Africa’s Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, as well as from Kenya, Nigeria and the USA.

The City’s support for signature events like this is aligned to our objectives of increasing visitor numbers to Joburg, positioning it as a leading, all year round global destination for business, lifestyle, sports and leisure. Afropunk is set to boost visitor numbers to the city during a traditionally quieter period when Joburgers head out to enjoy their festive season holidays.

In line with the ten (10) priority implementation plans (PIPs) of the city and the economic development business plan, the tourism unit aims to contribute significantly to 5% of the economic growth in the city.

Tourism has a positive effect on the entire tourism value chain - from accommodation providers to restaurants, transport companies, tour guides, big brand retail outlets, as well as niche boutiques and curio shops.

Joburg is More Than a Stopover destination and we urge our visitors to enjoy an extended stay, exploring our multi-faceted and culturally diverse sites and attractions – from our rejuvenated precincts in the inner city, to shopping in Sandton and cycling in Alex and Soweto, the options for sight-seeing and leisure are almost endless.

A legacy project of the Afropunk initiative in Johannesburg, I am Joburg - a curated collection of unique experiences and tours celebrating Johannesburg’s diverse cultures and people. From walking and cycling tours of Joburg’s iconic neighborhoods to unique culinary and cultural experiences, I am Joburg is about celebrating the local, while supporting local tourism and creative entrepreneurs who make this city unique. For more information visit: www.iamjoburg.africa

In spite of being Joburg’s traditionally quiet period, the summer holidays offer both staycationers and visitors plenty to do - including family, festive Christmas and New Year’s events and activities.

What is the Afropunk Festival?

Afropunk is an American music festival that celebrates black artists, tracing its origins to “Afro-Punk,” a 2003 documentary directed by James Spooner and produced by Matthew Morgan that chronicled the loneliness experienced by black fans of punk music and culture. Morgan, who grew up in London and went on to manage artists, later teamed with Cooper, a former head of artist and repertoire at Universal Music, to conceive Afropunk as a reflection of the diversity of black identity.

Since debuting in Brooklyn, Paris, Atlanta and London have played host to Afropunk Festivals. The event has transcended its moorings in punk to encompass hip-hop, soul, jazz and electronic music, an evolution that Cooper has said makes Afropunk “for anyone who wants to come to the party with the right mindset and who wants to be free.”

Johannesburg Tourism is a destination marketing organisation, dedicated to promoting tourism growth in the City. Its primary function is to promote Johannesburg as a business, lifestyle, sport and leisure destination, both locally and internationally. Its operations include running a Convention Bureau, a Visitor Services Bureau, as well as co-ordinating city-wide tourism marketing programmes, tourism information gathering and analysis.